Pleissenburg, Medieval castle in Leipzig, Germany
The Pleissenburg was a medieval fortress in Leipzig built on elevated ground near the Pleisse River, with four sides, thick stone walls, and defensive towers. A moat ran around the complex, protecting the inner courtyard and the residential areas behind the walls.
Margrave Dietrich had the fortress built in the 13th century to control the city and the surrounding region. It was rebuilt and expanded several times over the centuries before being demolished in 1897 to make way for the current New Town Hall.
In 1519 the Leipzig Debate took place inside the fortress, where Martin Luther publicly argued his ideas against the papal theologian Johannes Eck. The event is seen as a turning point of the Reformation, and the site is remembered for this chapter of German religious history.
Nothing remains of the original fortress above ground today, as the structure was torn down in 1897. Those interested in learning more about its history can find relevant exhibits in museums across Leipzig's city center.
Between 1765 and 1790 an art academy operated inside the fortress walls, where young artists came to learn drawing. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, then a student in Leipzig, attended classes there and took his first lessons in the visual arts.
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